State noticing county teams

October 4, 2010

Columbia City head football coach Randy Hudgins led his Eagles to an 56-55 upset win at East Noble Friday night. Now, the state has noticed giving City the No. 8 ranking in class 4A. Post & Mail photo / Andrew Shultz

It took seven weeks and back-to-back wins over state-ranked teams but Columbia City football went from beating ranked opponents to becoming one itself.
After their thrilling 56-55 win at East Noble Friday night, the Eagles opened week eight of the Indiana high school football regular season ranked No. 8 in class 4A.
Currently, Columbia City stands at 6-1 overall in a four-way tie atop the Northeast Hoosier Conference with a 4-1 record.
The Eagles got there by beating the best the NHC has to offer with wins over two of the three teams they are tied with.
After a Homestead field goal kick handed the Eagles their only conference loss, No. 9 New Haven and No. 8 East Noble — at the time — faced the Eagles with Columbia City using come-from-behind drives late to win each game.
As for New Haven and East Noble, both NHC foes fell just outside of the top 10 in week eight. The Bulldogs led all non-ranked teams with 22 votes while the Knights were just two back with 20.
Columbia City joins the state rankings with fellow Whitley County team Churubusco who held down the No. 2 spot in class A after a rally of its own at Culver Military Academy 24-21.
’Busco attempts to finish off its second straight NECC title this week at Fairfield (5-2).
All three county teams got recognition this week. South Whitley’s Whitko Wildcats used a 5-0 start in the Three River Conference to earn two votes in class 2A.
Whitko stands at 6-1 with its only loss coming to Columbia City in week two.
The Wildcats stand in a two-way tie for first in the TRC with a road trip to 5-0 Rochester on the schedule this week.